Detroit Lions 2025 camp preview: Some minor intrigue surrounding backup QB job

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Over the next couple of weeks, leading into the start of training camp, we're going to take a position-by-position look at the Detroit Lions' roster.

We'll analyze the projected starting situation, highlight a key camp battle, explore a burning question, and set a statistical over/under for the upcoming season.

Today, we’ll be looking at the quarterbacks.

Roster

Jared Goff, Hendon Hooker, Kyle Allen

Starter outlook

The Lions had one of the most prolific scoring offenses in NFL history last season, averaging 33.2 points. The surprising contrast to the barrage is Goff attempted fewer passes per game than in any other season outside his seven starts as a rookie.

That didn't stop him from earning Pro Bowl honors for the fourth time, thanks to a career-best completion percentage (72.8%) and passer rating (111.8), finishing second among qualified players in both categories.

As he's matured with experience, Goff has become increasingly reliable and consistent. Over the past three seasons, he's compiled a passer rating over 100 while maintaining an interception rate under 2.0%. Early-career concerns regarding his propensity for unforced errors no longer persist.

"There's very little left for Jared to accomplish, other than a Super Bowl championship," position coach Mark Brunell said in May. "He's been in the Pro Bowl, and he's one of the best in the business right now. But he's in pursuit of winning a championship. That is what drives him. And he understands full well, which I love about him, that what you do in May has everything to do with what happens in February."

Camp competition to watch

Hooker will enter training camp with the leg up for the backup role. Still, he'll have to fend off a challenge from Allen, an experienced veteran who signed as a free agent this offseason.

Despite continuing to express confidence in Hooker, the Lions cast doubt on his grasp on the job when they re-signed Teddy Bridgewater for the stretch run in 2024. Adding a known commodity to the mix this offseason keeps those questions afloat.

"He's doing great," Brunnel said. "It's a new opportunity for him, a new year. Another year of growth. Remember, what is this, Year 3? He's a puppy. He's still young. Does he have a lot to grow? Yeah. There are some things that we've got to work on, but that's the same case for every other young guy that's going into his third season."

After spending most of his rookie season recovering from a torn ACL, and suffering a thumb injury during the early stages of last year's offseason program that significantly impacted his accuracy, Hooker needed a late surge to beat out Nate Sudfeld.

Hooker held the job through the regular season — seeing limited action in the closing stages of some blowouts — before Bridgewater displaced him for the team's playoff game against Washington.

Allen comes in as a longtime backup, joining his fifth roster in many years. However, he hasn't started a game since 2022, throwing just one pass across the past two seasons.

"He's been on multiple teams, different systems," Brunnel said. “(He's) very smart. What I loved about the tape that we saw (was that) he made good decisions with the ball. He managed very well. You could tell he was operating within whatever offense he was in. Just has a good grasp on how to play at this level, and has for a while."

It's unlikely, but not inconceivable, that the Lions enter the season with three quarterbacks on the 53-man roster. In most cases, that spot is better utilized somewhere else. The team can always add a third quarterback, potentially from the practice squad, to serve as an emergency option late in the season and into the playoffs.

A burning question

Brunell is correct; there's not a ton left for Goff to accomplish in the regular season. He's not going to morph into a dual-threat suddenly, so we're left to ponder how he improves on last year's impressive efficiency.

The answer likely lies in his still-growing connection with Jameson Williams. The two unquestionably took things to another level in 2024, but there's still room to sand some rough corners. While Goff hit on better than 72% of his targets to his other top options, Williams came down with just 63.7% of the throws his way.

Yes, some of that has to do with the average depth of those targets. Regardless, if the catch rate improves, particularly on deep balls where the tandem connected on just six-of-15 tries in 2024, Goff could easily rewrite Detroit's record books again.

Setting an over/under

4,700 passing yards for Goff

Despite fewer attempts last season, Goff's 4,629 passing yards fell just 59 short of a new personal best. He's now topped 4,600 three times, including twice with the Rams. With a tougher schedule likely requiring the Lions to throw more this season, there could be an opportunity for Goff to set another personal mark.

For what it’s worth, Matthew Stafford still holds the three highest single-season yardage marks in franchise history, led by his 5,038 yards in 2011.